The number of respondents per survey ranges from 400 to 3,977. Generally, poll numbers hover in the neighborhood of 1,000, producing margins of error between 2.6% and 6% usually at the 95% confidence level.

The most common respondents are "adults" and "voters/registered voters," meaning that the polling firm sought to question only these kinds of individuals. Physicians form the respondent base in two studies: one from May 2001 at the Rhode Island Hospital (#45) and one on Medscape (#48) in August of 2001. The former poll found that 50% of physicians thought marijuana should be available by prescription to those who need it. Only 25% were opposed with another 25% unsure. Conversely, 81% of physicians in the latter poll favored the "decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes" with only 19% opposed.